The Association of Electricity Distributors Undertakings Namibia (AEDU Namibia) held its 9^th conference on Thursday, 15^th March 2018. The AEDU is an association of electricity distributors and other institutions that have a direct interest in the electricity supply industry in Namibia.  The one-day conference was attended by various stakeholders from the electricity sector in the country. Amongst the topics discussed was the security of supply, energy storage, smart distribution, smart metering, industry performance, new trends, new technology and security of supply.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Honourable Minister Tom Alweendo said that the electricity is important for the economic growth of the country. According to Hon. Minister Alweendo, the Ministry of Mines and Energy is “currently busy implementing the recently approved National Integrated Resource Plan (NIRP) which aims to reduce Namibia’s over reliance on electricity imports from our neighbours”. The NIRP is a 20-year development plan for Namibia’s Electricity Supply Industry, spanning the period between 2016 and 2035. “It provides a projection of Namibia’s expected future electricity demand, and identifies the mix of resources required to meet the country’s electricity needs in an efficient and reliable manner at the lowest reasonable cost. The resources include alternative energy generation sources such as Concentrated Solar Power, Biomass, Solar PV and Wind Generation,” said Alweendo.

Speaking at the conference was also the Chairperson of AEDU Namibia, Leon Hanekom. “The AEDU Conference strives to bring Government, the Distributors, electricity supply value chain as well as electricity industry support services together to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest,” said Hanekom.